THAT I MAY KNOW HIM (Phil. 3:10) The Doctrine Concerning Hell The subject of the doctrine of Hell is one that can cause heated exchange. A few years ago Steve Chalke, an English evangelical Baptist Minister who is well-known for his opposition to orthodox Biblical doctrines caused a stir when he rejected the whole notion of eternal punishment. As far as he is concerned Hell is not consistent with the character of God. John Stott was a evangelical Church of England minister, - one of the most respected Christian leaders in the twentieth century. He supported a concept known as annihilationism, i.e. the souls of the lost are eventually allowed to perish instead of suffering throughout eternity in a literal hell. He struggled with the idea of eternal punishment, saying, Emotionally, I find the concept [of eternal conscious torment] intolerable and do not understand how people can live with it without either cauterizing their feelings or cracking under the strain. Stott urged that the ultimate annihilation of the wicked should at least be accepted as a legitimate, biblically founded alternative to their eternal conscious torment. Incidentally, this is how the Seventh-Day Adventists and the Jehovah Witnesses believe. These are only two men, and yet their influence is very great. Within evangelicalism their opinions, - along with other similarly-minded Christian leaders, - have caused many to hold misgivings as to the existence of a literal Hell, its eternality and its ferocity. What does the Bible say though? Let s understand four Biblical terms which are used within this context, - Sheol, Hades, Tartarus and Gehenna. In the Hebrew Old Testament, the concept of the after-life is contained within the word sheol. This term is the general description for the realm of the dead, the underworld, the place of no return the place of the departed souls/spirits. Examples of sheol are found in Ps. 88:3 For my soul is full of troubles: and my life draweth nigh unto the grave. 5 Free among the dead, like the slain that lie in the grave, whom thou rememberest no more: and they are cut off from thy hand. Throughout much of the Old Testament, it was believed all went to the one place, - designated collectively as the grave, - whether human or animal, Ps. 49:12 Nevertheless man being in honour abideth not: he is like the beasts that perish...
2 14 Like sheep they are laid in the grave; death shall feed on them; and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their beauty shall consume in the grave from their dwelling. 20 Man that is in honour, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish. Eccles. 3:19 For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity. 20 All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again. And Sheol is unavoidable, for example, Ps. 89:48 What man is he that liveth, and shall not see death? shall he deliver his soul from the hand of the grave? Sheol was thought to be in the lowest parts of the earth in the earth s core, Dt. 32:22 For a fire is kindled in mine anger, and shall burn unto the lowest hell. Ezek. 31:18 To whom art thou thus like in glory and in greatness among the trees of Eden? yet shalt thou be brought down with the trees of Eden unto the nether parts of the earth. Sheol was considered to be devoid of emotions, love, hate, envy, work, thought, knowledge, and wisdom, Eccles. 9:5 For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten. 6 Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun... 10 Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest. There is no light in Sheol, Job 10:21 Before I go whence I shall not return, even to the land of darkness and the shadow of death; 22 A land of darkness, as darkness itself; and of the shadow of death, without any order, and where the light is as darkness. Neither is there any praise for God in Sheol, Is. 38:8 For the grave cannot praise thee, death can not celebrate thee: they that go down into the pit cannot hope for thy truth. And there is silence in Sheol, Ps. 115:17 The dead praise not the LORD, neither any that go down into silence. However, the Lord is present, Ps. 139:7 Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? 8 If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in Hell [sheol], behold, thou art there. Then, toward the end of the Old Testament, God revealed there will be a resurrection of the dead from out of Sheol, Is. 26:19 Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for
3 thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead. At that time, Sheol will devour no longer Is. 25:8 He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it. The believer will be rewarded with everlasting life while the unbeliever will be punished with eternal contempt, Dan. 12:2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt [abhorrence]. When we come into the New Testament, the revelation concerning eternity has progressed so that it was common among the Jews to believe the righteous dead go to a place of comfort, while the unrighteous and the wicked dead enter a place of torment. This is known as Hades. Hades, in the New Testament Greek, normally translates Sheol in the Old Testament Greek LXX. Similar to Sheol, Hades signified the realm in which all the dead exist, - righteous and unrighteous. For example before we go there it s dangerous and not at all advisable to build theology on a parable, although commentators are not sure as to whether Lk. 16:19-21 is a parable or whether it is a true account of two actual people, but this passages condenses New Testament theology into a few verses and here we have two men in the realm of Hades. The rich man was in one department of Hades, - reserved for the unrighteous, - while Abraham and Lazarus was in another department of Hades reserved for the righteous. Both were in Hades, the place of the departed and here we are being given further insight to the limited knowledge that had been existing during the Old Testament era, concerning Sheol. This is what we call progressive revelation, which describes how our knowledge is gradually developed in order to become more advanced. Just to further explain progressive revelation In I Cor. 13:9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. The knowledge we have at the moment is partial, that is the limited knowledge Paul had in the early days of the Church, when they were restricted to the Old Testament Scriptures 10 But when that which is perfect [complete i.e. the full canon of the Old and New Testament Scriptures] is come, then that which is in part shall be done away [i.e. the transitory gifts that were given to the early Church will be superseded by the complete revelation of God, which is in the Old and New Testament Scriptures]. 11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man []i.e. when I progressed ], I put away childish things. 12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I
4 know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. That is progressive revelation. And in relation to our present subject of the doctrine of Hell, the progression occurs when increasing information is given in the New Testament. It was into Hades, - the place of torment (Lk. 16:22-23), - the rich man descended. In Hell (Hades, i.e. the Old Testament Sheol), Abraham and the beggar were afar off (v.23), - in a separate part of Hades, in a place of rest and contentment whereas the rich man was in torments (v.23), in need of mercy (v.24), thirsty and burning (v.24), he was fully conscious and aware of his disastrous situation for he was alive. In Hades, - that is, in the wicked section which is the abode of the devil and his angels it is described as being hostile to the people of God because its gates cannot prevail against the Church of the Lord Jesus (Mt. 16:18). It is under God s ultimate control for Jesus Himself holds the keys of Death and of Hades (Rev. 1:18). Death and Hades will ultimately relinquish their wicked dead who will finally and forever be cast into the lake of fire, Rev. 20:13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and Hell [Hades] delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14 And death and Hell [Hades] were cast into the lake of fire. The lake of fire, by the way, is the final Hell, into which all unrepentant angels and human beings will be eternally assigned, Mt. 25:41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels. The third word used in Scripture which is translated Hell is the word Tartarus. It is used only once, II Peter 2:4 For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to Hell [tartaro,w], and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment Tartarus was the name of the region below earth, regarded by the ancient Greeks as the abode of the wicked dead, where they suffer eternal punishment for their evil deeds. It is the deepest abyss within Hades. It is the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew Gehenna. Gehenna is the fourth word used in the New Testament which is translated as Hell. It is the transliteration of the Greek word γέεννα, taken from the Hebrew gê hinnom, which means the valley of Hinnom. It is the word Jesus always used when He spoke of the place of punishment for the wicked.
5 According to Joshua the valley of Hinnom was located to the south of Jerusalem, Joshua 15:8 And the border went up by the valley of the son of Hinnom unto the south side of the Jebusite; the same is Jerusalem: and the border went up to the top of the mountain that lieth before the valley of Hinnom westward, which is at the end of the valley of the giants northward 18:16 And the border came down to the end of the mountain that lieth before the valley of the son of Hinnom, and which is in the valley of the giants on the north, and descended to the valley of Hinnom, to the side of Jebusi on the south, and descended to Enrogel. Hinnom means lamentation, - the valley of lamentation, - and it was a deep and narrow ravine from which it was said to be impossible to escape. It was immediately outside the city of Jerusalem, with Mount Zion to the north, and was originally a boundary between the tribes of Judah and Benjamin. The valley of Hinnom was where some of the worst abominations and atrocities occurred in Israel. Sadly, King Solomon contributed to the establishment of this wicked place for on the southern brow of the hill leading up to Jerusalem, overlooking the valley at its eastern extremity he erected high places of worship to Molech, a god of the Ammonites, for he had Ammonite wives, I Kings 11:7 Then did Solomon build an high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, in the hill that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon. It was also in this valley of Hinnom that Kings Ahaz and Manasseh burnt their children as sacrifices/offerings to the idols, II Kings 16:3 But he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, yea, and made his son to pass through the fire, according to the abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD cast out from before the children of Israel. 4 And he sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree. II Chron. 28:1 Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem: but he did not that which was right in the sight of the LORD, like David his father 3 Moreover he burnt incense in the valley of the son of Hinnom, and burnt his children in the fire, after the abominations of the heathen whom the LORD had cast out before the children of Israel. II Chron. 33:1 Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty and five years in Jerusalem: 2 But did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, like unto the abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD had cast out before the children of Israel. 3 For he built again the high places which Hezekiah his father had broken down, and he reared up altars for Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them. 4 Also he built altars in the house of the LORD, whereof the LORD had said, In Jerusalem shall my name be for ever. 5 And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the LORD. 6 And he caused his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom: also he observed times, and used enchantments, and used witchcraft, and dealt with a familiar
6 spirit, and with wizards: he wrought much evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger. Hence, the valley of Hinnom was traditionally considered by the Jews to be the place of the final punishment for the ungodly. Another name for Gehenna was Tophet(h), Jer. 7:29 Cut off thine hair, O Jerusalem, and cast it away, and take up a lamentation on high places; for the LORD hath rejected and forsaken the generation of his wrath. 30 For the children of Judah have done evil in my sight, saith the LORD: they have set their abominations in the house which is called by my name, to pollute it. 31 And they have built the high places of Tophet [ place of fire ], which is in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to burn their sons and their daughters in the fire Jer. 19:3 And say, Hear ye the word of the LORD, O kings of Judah, and inhabitants of Jerusalem; Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, the which whosoever heareth, his ears shall tingle. 4 Because they have forsaken me, and have estranged this place, and have burned incense in it unto other gods, whom neither they nor their fathers have known, nor the kings of Judah, and have filled this place with the blood of innocents; 5 They have built also the high places of Baal, to burn their sons with fire for burnt offerings unto Baal, which I commanded not, nor spake it, neither came it into my mind: 6 Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that this place shall no more be called Tophet, nor The valley of the son of Hinnom, but The valley of slaughter Is. 30:33 For Tophet is ordained of old; yea, for the king it is prepared; he hath made it deep and large: the pile thereof is fire and much wood; the breath of the LORD, like a stream of brimstone, doth kindle it. By the way, Tophet translates as the place of fire and the word tophet also translates as drum, i.e. the place of the drum because it is claimed the drums were beaten loudly to drown out the screams of the children who were being burned as sacrifices to Molech. It was a horrendous place because the imagery of Gehenna and Tophet described how the ungodly would suffer the full force of the wrath of God and that is the sense in which it is used by the Lord Jesus, Mt. 5:29 And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. Mt. 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in Hell Mt. 23:15 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves. Mk. 9:43 And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never
7 shall be quenched Lk. 12:5 But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him. And the word Gehenna is always the term which refers to the Lake of Fire (Rev. 19:20; 20:10; 20:14,15). It is not just the place of the dead, - with its two departments, - like Hades, but it is the actual burning Lake of Fire into which Hades will eventually be cast (Rev. 20:14). That is why Mk. 9:43 describes Hell as the place of unquenchable fire and the place 48 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. The full force of the nature of Hell is demonstrated through the words Gehenna and Tophet Rev. 20:11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. So, those are the four words used in Scripture to translate our word Hell, - Sheol, Hades, Tartarus, and Gehenna. Through progressive revelation we develop in our understanding of the nature of Hell as we make our way through the Bible. Hell is real it is very real just as real as Heaven. There is no escape from it in eternity and the only means by which it can be avoided is in time when we believe in the Lord Jesus as our Saviour. The punishment of the wicked in Hell is everlasting It is as never-ending as the bliss of the righteous in Heaven, for that is what Jesus taught, Mt. 25:46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. The wicked are forever subject to the fury and the wrath of God. Those in hell are compelled to acknowledge His perfect justice, and they recognise they are in hell because their punishment is deserved for they alone are to blame for none are without excuse (Rom. 1:20). They rejected Christ, God s offer of mercy, and Hell is the consequence. Hell is a real place of torment and punishment that lasts forever, with no end.
8 Some people try to be clever and argue there is not a literal fire in Hell, for if there was, then there could be no darkness. We have mentioned the passage already, but here is how Job considered the light in Hell, Job 10:22 A land of darkness, as darkness itself; and of the shadow of death, without any order, and where the light is as darkness. In other words, the Light of God s wrath is there for He is everywhere, but it is of no consequence to the prisoners in Hell for, as Jesus said, 19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. Using earthly words to describe Hell is like using earthly words to describe Heaven, - there are no words to capture either the beauty of Heaven or the fearfulness of Hell and yet, both are real. Although we do not know exactly what Hell looks like, it is a place of unending suffering and torment from which there is never escape. The only means of escape is in this life only through believing in Jesus Christ as our Saviour, Rom. 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Hell is not the destination of the believer for we can confidently praise God that, through the grace demonstrated by the Lord Jesus Christ on Calvary, we have been privileged with the faith to believe, and through believing in Him as our Saviour and Lord, we shall never never perish, but have everlasting life (Jn. 3:16). Amen.